“Mrs. Mulberry is the worst,” Hazel said. “She looks ancient! I bet she’s been there ever since the school started.”
“Looks aren’t everything, hon,” Wyatt said, his eyes sparkling. “But I vaguely remember being taught by her.”
“She teaches science like it’s the dinosaur ages!” Hazel scrunched up her face. “She says stuff like ‘For sustenance, plants synthesize food to produce carbohydrates.’ It’s so boring!”
“But you remembered it, didn’t you?” Wyatt grinned. “Why do plants need food?”
“So they can live. And be food’s food.”
“Food’s food?” Raph asked.
Hazel folded her arms, looking away.
“She means the cows,” Wyatt’s eyes gleamed. “You need to eat your veggies too, hon.”
“I know, I know.”
They pulled up at the drive-in sometime later, by the back entrance. When Hazel opened her door, Raph caught a whiff of savory broth and grilled meat. Hazel rounded the hood, stopping by Wyatt’s door. Wyatt pulled her into a hug.
“Now, don’t skate out for orders today,” Wyatt said. “It’s Wednesday. We’ve got plenty of staff around to handle that.”
Hazel pouted. “But you’ve always let me take the Wednesday orders.”
“I shouldn’t be letting you work.” Wyatt glanced at Raph from the corner of his eye. Raph smiled—Wyatt was taking his concerns seriously.
Hazel followed Wyatt’s gaze. “Are you just saying that because of Uncle Raph?”
Wyatt paused, his mouth open. Raph slipped out of the car, and into Hazel’s seat. Hazel frowned at him.
“For your own good, princess,” Raph said. “Keep your dad out of trouble.”
“I never get into trouble.” Hazel kissed Wyatt’s cheek, then turned away, stomping through the back door.
They watched until she disappeared into the kitchen, before driving away.
Wyatt sighed. “I don’t know what to do, sometimes. How strict to be with her when she’s such a good child.”
Raph didn’t know, either. He’d seen Wyatt go through a near-meltdown. Hazel had seen worse, and she’d grown up differently because of that.
He saw Wyatt’s regret sometimes, when Wyatt looked at Hazel. The wistful, contemplative frown on Wyatt’s face, as though he wished he could’ve given Hazel a better childhood.
So Raph reached over, squeezing Wyatt’s hand. “You’re doing good with her.”
Wyatt cracked a smile. “How do you even judge that?”
“Hazel loves you. That counts.”
Wyatt breathed out. “I guess it does.”
They wove through the streets, passing through the downtown area, before the police station loomed up behind the town square. They pulled into a quieter parking lot at the back, where there were a few parked police bikes, and some nondescript cars. Raph spotted their dad’s Chevy in the corner; his pulse quickened.
He met Wyatt by the hood of his car, catching Wyatt’s hand. “Do I hang on to you?”
Wyatt thought for a moment, then shook his head. “People recognize us. Remember Uncle Ben? He’s still there. And Uncle Tom, too.”
In their younger days, Chief Fleming had brought Wyatt, Penny and Raph to the police station, and they’d met the policemen Dad called his friends. Right now, it would be best for them to talk to their father first, before revealing their secret to anyone else. Or maybe it would remain a secret by the end of today.
The station was busy when they stepped in. There was a queue at the receptionist’s desk, and people sat in plastic chairs, waiting to file their complaints at the counter. To the side, some policemen waited in the elevator lobby—alphas in navy uniforms with silver buttons. Wyatt’s eyes lingered on them, appreciative.
“See something you like?” Raph growled, something snarling in his chest.
Wyatt’s lips curved into a smile. “I like the uniforms. Why? Are you jealous?”
“No.”
But Wyatt smiled wider, his fingertips snagging on Raph’s wrist, smoothing over where he’d left his bonding mark. And maybe Raph didn’t need to be jealous, after all.
With the dregs of his memory guiding him, Raph turned toward the elevator lobby, stopping with Wyatt near the cluster of officers. The officers glanced over, gazes dropping to their chests—no identifying lanyards.
“The public service desk is over there,” one of the younger alphas said, pointing.
An alpha with graying curls snorted, his wrinkles deepening when he grinned. “Shush, cadet. You don’t tell Fleming’s kids to go to the public service desk.”
The cadet blinked, looking between the alpha, Raph, and Wyatt. He blushed. All the other officers looked over, too. Raph smiled awkwardly, glad that he and Wyatt had sprayed on the scent suppressants before they’d left Wyatt’s place. Otherwise, he’d be smelling like Wyatt and sex.
A chorus of Hey and Good to see you guys rumbled from the other officers.
“Sorry,” the cadet said, his face beet-red.
“It’s fine,” Raph said, feeling like he’d accidentally become famous.
“How are you kids doing?” the alpha asked. His lanyard said he was Ted McDines. Ted glanced between them, then at Wyatt’s belly. “Last I saw you, you were a lot younger!”
And a lot more naive than they were now. Raph shrugged, itching to slide his arm around Wyatt, pull him close so the alphas knew who Wyatt belonged to. “We’re doing fine. I’m moving back to Meadowfall soon.”
“Are you?” Ted grinned. “I’m sure Fleming will be thrilled. Sons like you—anyone would be proud. He talks a lot about you kids, you know. Has pictures in his office, and all that. Everyone at the station knows who you are. ‘Cept for guys like Pip.”
Ted nudged Pip, who looked like he wished he were somewhere else. Raph felt the same. Next to him, Wyatt paled.
“Didn’t know you were expecting, Wyatt.” Ted reached out. “Congrats!”
Wyatt shook his hand, his smile strained. Raph was painfully aware that the older folk in Meadowfall knew who exactly they were. For them to know Chief Fleming’s sons had a baby... well. It would look terrible for the police chief. And Dad had to face these guys every day.
The elevator doors opened. Raph filed in with Wyatt, touching the small of his back. Wyatt didn’t look at him. They’d just made up, and maybe... they shouldn’t have.
The officers murmured among themselves in the elevator. Ted glanced between them. “So, you’re here to visit your dad?”
“Yeah,” Raph said. “Do you know if he’s busy?”
Ted glanced at his watch. “He might be in a meeting with the department heads. You’ll catch him just before lunch, though.”
“Thanks.”
The elevator opened on each floor, letting out some officers, while others entered. At the highest floor, Ted held the doors open for them, nodding at the far wall. “There’s your dad’s office. You might have to wait around.”
Raph nodded, stepping out. Ted turned down a corridor. Raph and Wyatt were left alone, watching as some officers typed into computers, others talking over their cubicle dividers. A few looked over when they walked through the room, waving.
Chief Fleming’s office was a room right across from the elevator lobby, a large square space with opaque white walls, and blinds closed over its windows. As they approached it, Raph’s heart pattered.
“You’re sure about this,” he murmured, glancing sidelong at Wyatt.
Wyatt winced. “It’s... probably not a good idea. Maybe we should wait for Dad to cool off first.”
And maybe they should leave, and Raph should move in with Wyatt, get settled before they mentioned their bonding to Dad again.
Raph was about to voice it, when one of the meeting room doors opened.
Several officers filed out, a number striding toward the lift lobby, some returning to their desks. At the end of the line, Stan Fleming stepped out of the room, deep in conversation with his subordinate.
Wyatt stepped closer to Raph, his throat working. And their father glanced over, his eyes locking onto them. His lips thinned; his eyes narrowed.
It felt like the time when Raph crashed his bicycle into his dad’s new car, except the stakes were a lot higher now. Dad ended the conversation with his officer, striding toward them.
Wyatt’s hand found its way into Raph’s, his fingers tacky with sweat.
“Things will be fine,” Raph said.
Wyatt cracked a tiny smile. “You told Hazel you wouldn’t lie.”
Well, there was that. Raph sighed, squeezing Wyatt’s hand. “I’m not failing you again.”
They stepped to the side when Chief Fleming approached, pulling out the key to his office. With a frown, Dad glanced at Wyatt’s belly, then their clasped hands. Raph straightened his shoulders. If there was something his dad had taught him, it was that he should stand up for what he thought was right.
Dad opened the office door, leaving it open when he stepped in. So they followed, Raph first, then Wyatt, and Wyatt shut the door behind them.
The office smelled like stale coffee and spruce. It was just like Ted had described—framed photos of their family on the walls, photos on the desk by Dad’s computer. There were pictures of Raph and his siblings, pictures of Wyatt and Hazel, pictures of Stan and Tanya, and a yellowing one from a decade ago—their parents, and Raph, Penny and Wyatt. Before Wyatt left.
They’d looked so young, back then.
“I thought you’d be at work today,” Dad said, looking hard at Raph. He set his files on the desk, sitting carefully down in his chair.
“I took a day off,” Raph said. “I’m quitting Alpha Associates.”
“Your grandma’s going to be so damn pissed.”
“Better she be pissed, than me walking out on my baby.” Raph straightened his shoulders, meeting Dad’s eyes. “Wy hasn’t had an easy life, Dad. Our baby’s my responsibility, too. I’m not going to sit back and have him raise the child as a single father.”
Dad pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing. “Why even Wyatt, Raph? There are so many omegas out there. Not saying you’re terrible, Wy. Just... explain this to me. You know what the whole town is going to think.”
And by relation, the whole police station, too. With Stan Fleming caught in the scandal.
Raph exchanged a look with Wyatt. There wasn’t anyone else he’d ever wanted, not really. “It’s not like we’re planning a big wedding, or anything. I don’t care if the people outside think I’m stepping in as Wyatt’s replacement alpha. Hell, you thought the same thing at first. We just figured... you should know the truth.”
“I’ve loved Raph since I was fourteen,” Wyatt said quietly. “As an omega. I don’t think anyone really noticed, except Mom and Grandma.”
“We aren’t blood brothers,” Raph said.
Dad nodded, his lips a thin line.
“I know I should love him as my brother,” Raph said. “I don’t know why Wyatt. I can’t explain it, except maybe we’ve been seeing each other differently, more than brothers. You’ve always said an alpha should protect their omega. Wy hasn’t had an alpha in ages—”
“He had one, didn’t he?” Dad glanced at Wyatt, who tensed. “I don’t remember his name offhand. Wyatt, you said it was an accident...”
And the dormant fury in Raph’s chest roared. “It was no accident,” Raph muttered, his grip tightening on Wyatt’s hand. “Wy was lying to you and Mom about that.”
Wyatt paled. Raph glanced at him, feeling the weight of dad’s gaze on both of them.
“Am I allowed to tell him?” Raph asked, his heart thudding. “Just... just the short version of it.”
Dad frowned. “Tell me what?”
Wyatt squirmed, looking at his feet. “I... guess.”
“Hazel’s other dad abused Wy,” Raph said, anger coiling through his limbs. “He never told you because he didn’t want you to worry.”
Dad’s gaze sharpened. “Is that true, Wyatt?”
Wyatt nodded, looking away. “Sorry. I thought... I didn’t want you to look at Hazel differently.”
Dad frowned, standing. And Wyatt flinched, as though he expected to be beaten. Raph’s heart cracked. He stepped between Dad and Wyatt, his chest tight. “I swore I’d protect him,” Raph said. “If you want to blame someone for this, blame me.”
For a long moment, Dad looked at Raph, and Wyatt past his shoulder. Raph reached behind, catching Wyatt’s hand. Wyatt’s palm was sweaty, his fingers shaking. They shouldn’t have come here; Raph shouldn’t have put Wyatt in this position at all.
“I’m sorry,” he said, turning to look at Wyatt. “We’ll get out of here.”
“Wait,” Dad said. He rounded his desk, his mustache bristling. “Wyatt.”
Wyatt pressed his forehead against Raph’s shoulder, his other arm slipping around his belly. Gods, Raph hadn’t seen him shake this much, since the time Max showed up at the drive-in. “I don’t want to talk about it,” Wyatt mumbled.
Raph pulled Wyatt into his arms, holding him tight. “We won’t talk about it.”
Wyatt nodded, trembling, hiding his face in Raph’s shoulder.
To the side, Dad stopped some paces away, his eyes sorrowful. “I’m not asking you to leave,” he rumbled, tense. “I’m sorry, Wyatt. I didn’t... I should have known better. Who was your abuser?”
“Max McArthur,” Raph said.
Dad narrowed his eyes. “McArthur? I closed the Horace McArthur case earlier this year. Our department has been keeping tabs on his relatives.”
“Yeah, well. The Max bastard’s back in Meadowfall,” Raph said, running his fingers through Wyatt’s silky hair. “I’m gonna take Wy home now.”
Dad stepped up to them, then paused again, his expression torn. “Look, I’m... I’m sorry for my actions, Wyatt, Raph. I wasn’t aware of the extenuating circumstances. I should have learned more before I passed judgment on you.”
He looked old then, with his tired eyes and gray hair, and the sag of his mouth. And Raph might’ve felt a little sorry for his dad.
“It’s fine,” Wyatt said, lifting his face from Raph’s shoulder. “We didn’t expect you to understand. I don’t... trust alphas anymore, aside from Raph.”
“It’s never been about the circumstances, though,” Raph said. “Wy has always felt right to me. Max happened after Wy and I tried to get together. That was nine years ago.”
Dad’s eyes narrowed. “I’ll get my guys to do a background check on Max McArthur. See if we can’t lock him up for something.”
Wyatt nodded jerkily, peeling himself off from Raph. “We shouldn’t be bothering you. Sorry for taking up your time.”
Dad shook his head. “No. Thank you for telling me what you have. I should be apologizing to you, Wyatt. And Raph, for... for taking care of your brother.”
Raph watched him, doubtful. Was Dad accepting them this easily? Just by learning about Wyatt’s history? “Wy and I are alpha and omega. You’re fine with that?”
Dad looked hesitantly between them. “I’ve been on this job several years—I’ve seen terrible things happen to people who didn’t deserve it. Raph, you’ve helped me remember what’s important. Wyatt needs someone. If that means you becoming his alpha, then... I guess that’s—that’s fine. It’s your choice.”
He looked like he wished things were different, but it was a step forward, at least.
“But the office,” Wyatt said.
Dad glanced at the door. “I don’t know about spreading the news outside my office. But if it gets out... You’ll have two alphas at your back, Wy. Not just one.”
Wyatt sagged, his mouth lifting into a trembling smile. “Thanks, Dad.”
Raph relaxed, the tension in his limbs seeping away. He’d walked into the station expecting a lot worse. This? This, he could live with.
Dad pulled them both into his arms, hugging them tight. “I’m just glad to see you again. It’s been years since I’ve seen the two of you together
.”
“I’m moving in with Wy,” Raph said, returning the hug. “We’ll visit more often.”
“Good, good. If you need help with that loan, Raph,” Dad said, pulling back to look at him. “I’ll see what your mom and I can scrounge up.”
“Thanks.” Raph sighed, stepping away from his dad. He hadn’t planned on asking his parents for help. But if he hadn’t gotten that debt solved in three months... he’d need all the money he could get. “We’ll see you this weekend? When I start moving down.”
“Looking forward to it,” Dad said, his mouth quirking into a smile. “It would be great to see all of you again.”
They were almost to the office door when Wyatt’s phone rang, the jaunty notes of Let’s Get Cooking filling the room. Sam.
Raph paused at the door, one hand on the door handle, watching as Wyatt answered his phone.
Wyatt’s face paled. “We’ll be right there,” he said. “Keep me updated.”
“What happened?” Raph asked.
“Hazel’s missing.”
Raph’s stomach twisted. To the side, Dad frowned. “Do you have the details?”
Wyatt leaned into Raph, his fingers flying across his screen. “Sam last saw her an hour ago. He—he thought she’d gone out to play, but her skates aren’t there. He’s been trying to call her for the last half hour.”
Raph remembered her storming off through the back entrance of the drive-in, pouting when Wyatt said she couldn’t skate. Gods, what did you do, Princess?
“If you need help, forward the information to me, Wyatt,” Dad said, glancing at his desk.
“You have work to do,” Wyatt said, looking up.
“Protocol says we need twenty-four hours before we start a search.” Dad managed a smile. “But if you have cause for concern, especially with that McArthur bastard in town, then I’m all ears.”
“Thanks,” Raph said. He hadn’t been glad about his dad’s job in years, not since he’d thought himself a failure for not rescuing Wyatt. But as they left the office, Raph nodded at Chief Fleming, glad for his dad’s support. Dad nodded back, mouthing Good luck.
They had a precious child to find.
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